“You’re going to love this one.”She said it every time she gave me a book.The first time I met Judy, we argued theology. She taught me about mothering—by example. She was there for my first home birth, encouraging me with every breath I took. Birthdays, holidays, and more births---our friendship grew.Judy introduced me to R.C. Sproul and John Gerstner. But of all the wonderful memories I have of her, my favorite is the day she brought ... Read More about When Do I Love Sermons Disguised As Novels?

I don’t remember when or where I was introduced to him, but it was love at first sight.
Generally speaking, I don’t believe in love at first sight, but when it comes to books, it’s a different matter altogether... And George MacDonald’s tales definitely caught my heart, causing me to devour each and every book of his I could possibly find.The depth of MacDonald’s stories and the thought-provoking conversations of his characters struck a ... Read More about 5 Romance Novels I Will Want My Children to Read

Three years ago, I interviewed Michael Phillips about his lifework of reintroducing George MacDonald's writings to the world. Naturally, thinking and writing on the topic made me homesick for the familiar stories, and so I began to reread.
While curled up in my Jerusalem home, vicariously roaming the hills of Scotland, I noticed that everyone seemed to be eating oatcakes.
Feeling a little jealous and a little hungry, back I went to my online ... Read More about George MacDonald and the Quest for Scottish Oatcakes

Michael Phillips is the author of at least 60 novels and 20 non-fiction books. A California native, he and his wife Judy raised three sons. They also ran their own press and bookshop, motivated largely by a desire to bring the works of the Scottish Victorian writer George MacDonald, the "Father of the Inklings," back into circulation. Thirty years later, their labor of love has borne rich fruit. All MacDonald's works are widely available in many ... Read More about Reviving the Work of George MacDonald

What does the fatherhood of God really signify? What does it mean to live as a child of God? How should the love of God influence my everyday life?Many Christians grapple with these questions as I have, and do. George MacDonald, the 19th century clergyman and writer, wrestled with these questions himself. The themes of eternal Fatherhood, the perfect obedience of His Son, and the call of God upon us infuse all of his novels with a sense of ... Read More about Novels with Gems of the Father’s Truth

I had just devoured The Chronicles of Narnia. I attacked a huge stack of books like they were the White Witch’s army. After reading all of them, I turned to my mom with quite a good deal of frustration. “They’re good books, but they’re not like Narnia at all!”Then my mom handed me a copy of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.She said, “It’s not Narnia, but I think you’ll like it. It’s about a princess and a miner boy who are ... Read More about Why C.S. Lewis Fans Should Not Ignore George MacDonald

"[Sir Gibbie] moved me the way books did when, as a child, the great gates of literature began to open and first encounters with noble thoughts and utterances were unspeakably thrilling."
-Elizabeth Yates, in the introduction to her edited version of Sir Gibbie, 1963
I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t familiar with George MacDonald’s unforgettable characters. The Princess and Curdie, Ranald Bannerman, and Sir Gibbie were just as much a part ... Read More about George MacDonald: A Single Vision and An Open Road Between Him and God

Unexpected life-detours can be hard -- whether you thought you'd have ten children by now and you're not sure how to do this singleness thing, or you planned to be single for awhile and now you've lost your vision.As a thirty-something woman who is still waiting for marriage, what has made an enormous difference to me? Having a vision of what singlehood can be. I've read it in the Bible. I've seen it walked out in friends' lives, or in ... Read More about Novel Encouragement for Singles

I wish I had been able to read this book back when I was single.
Then (and now!) I devoured love stories left and right. There is just something about a love story, isn't there? I can't get enough.
If you're also a love story aficionado, allow me to introduce you to one of the best love stories I've read all year--and the heroine who is nothing like you might expect.
"It all began when I was three. At least, that’s the story my mom used to ... Read More about a Cinderella novel that makes you ponder the heart of God

The year I turned twelve years old we moved into the upstairs of my grandparent's house in Northern New York.Until this point my family had been living in far off Homer, Alaska where my father taught at a Bible School. Our interactions with my mom's parents included a handful of visits, many phone calls, and handwritten letters that flew back and forth. But this year things were different. We were going to live with my grandparents for a ... Read More about Found Treasure: A Love Story in Books and Memories

As a historical fiction author, I'm often asked what gems of the genre I recommend. I love being asked for book suggestions, but I always follow up with a few questions first because there are so many facets (and sub-genres) to historical fiction! Here are my questions and answers, and most importantly, the titles of my favorite historical novels for every age.Whatever your taste in history or books, browse the list below for ideas on where ... Read More about 12+ Historical Novels to Fascinate Every Age